Footballers to raise funds for Matthew

Footballers to raise funds for Matthew

31 October 2018

KIND-HEARTED local footballers are organising a tournament in a bid to raise funds for a young fan.

Rossglass County will bring together 24 teams of five year-olds and six year-olds for a festival of football — and they need the public’s help.

The club has applied for funding from the Aviva Community fund to host the tournament to help five-year Matthew Fitzpatrick, a cerebral palsy sufferer, in his quest to walk unaided.

Club official Fintan Bradley says the club are only too happy to organise the tournament.

Matthew was born 10 weeks prematurely and as a result suffers from cerebral palsy — a terrible neurological condition that affects a child’s movement, motor skills and movement.

Currently, there is no cure, but there are various treatment options that can help children like Matthew enjoy a better quality of life.

Matthew is currently in a wheelchair and Fintan says everyone at Rossglass are full of admiration for their young supporter.

“He is a lovely, happy child with a great smile,” Fintan said. “He doesn’t let his disability get in the way of enjoying life, but his parents’ wish is that he can eventually leave his wheelchair behind him and walk unaided.”

Recently, Matthew and his parents travelled to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool so he could undergo Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery to improve his function and mobility.

As he needs more treatment and physiotherapy, Rossglass County would like to support him and his family by providing financial aid to help continue his treatment and visits to Alder Hay.

He is a big fan of football, especially Rossglass County, and has watched his uncle, Joe Farrand, play many times for the club.

The idea for the tournament has come from Joe’s wife, Amy, who is the Rossglass treasurer.

“We thought the best way we could help Matthew is to bring together children of his age to participate in our community football tournament, Fintan continued.

“Our philosophy has always been about giving all kids the chance to play football, whatever their ability,” he said.

“We try to teach our footballers respect for the game, their team mates, opponents, referees and their parents, holding them to the highest standards as a person both on and off the field,” he said.

“We plan to have more than enough to keep families entertained, from bouncy castles to face painting, music and hospitality and a barbecue to top it all off.

“We want to create a festival of football that will allow the boys and girls to play in a fun and enjoyable environment. 

“We also want to encourage as many people as possible from our local community and further 

afield to come along with their family, relatives and friends to have a great day out and participate in our fun day.”

You can vote to help Matthew by going to https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/4-1046.